Re:Inspiration!: cross genre themes
Sidhecafe..hi
There are many strands for and against Deckard being a replicant: the unicorn ‘dream’ sequence and Gaffs silver paper unicorn left in Deckards apartment would indicate that Gaff knew Deckards true origins – had read his file – along with his statement “…you’ve done a mans job sir”. Then again Deckard seems to be no match for either, Zhora or Leon both of whom appear physically stronger than he is. Roy Batty seems to be not only stronger but more ‘cunning’. (I think I read that Ridley Scott always wanted Deckards status to be open to question – since he is our ‘eyes’ into the action of the film it should leave our own status open too). Anyway…
What seems to unite Roy and Deckard and indeed Rachael is their compassion – Roy for Deckard (although ultimately Roy I believe learns to love all life), Deckard for Rachael, and I think Rachael really does care for Deckard.
In away for me it doesn’t matter what Deckards origins are. Deckard, Roy and Rachael, are all killers – Deckard by profession (although he clearly has doubts about his profession). Roy out of the need too live (although he murders Eldon Tyrell needlessly one suspects that Tyrell would not have treated Roy any better. Roy however seems worried by his actions or at least this is the impression one gets as he descends in the elevator (‘the fall’ from heaven …the Milton ‘Paradise Lost’ connection). Rachael kills Leon to save Deckards life, because, I think she loves him.
All these killings are complex in terms of the motivations behind them. However: through the course of events in the film Deckard Roy and Rachael all learn remorse. Roy and Rachael attain an empathy for other living beings which they did not have because they are replicants and Deckard either: asuming he is a replicant attains this empathy too or; assuming he is human, regains what he had previously lost – Deckard doesn’t only feel pity for Rachael he loves her and he deliberately doesn’t look at her file – doesn’t want to know her longevity and incept dates.
Regardless of their origins these characters all ‘grow’ as human beings. Roy, Rachael and Rick Deckard all undergo a process of ‘becoming’.
I do agree with you about the music for ‘Ghost in the Shell’ it is very haunting I still have it in my head two days after watching the film…and like you I am very drawn to Kusinagi one feels for her. That’s the good thing about a lot of scifi there are good female characters, characters who break stereotypical female moulds. In fact this seems to happen more in scifi than in any other genre.
Having said that and bearing in mind that this thread is supposed to be about cross genre influences a long time favourite has been the character of Janne La Pucelle – Joan of Arc – more on her later!